Where were you? Cricket's latest JFK moment occurred at around 10pm on Saturday, when the News of the World broke the story of the year. The Spin tends to deal in shocking Saturday nights but this put a new spin on an old theme. For the next hour all we could do was softly shake our head and mumble "not the kid, please not the kid".

The subsequent 48 hours have been extraordinary, including one of the most surreal sessions of Test cricket ever played; but while there is an understandable desire for swift resolution, the complexity of the case and the need to get any punishments absolutely spot on means that the ICC must take its time here.

We knew the summer was going to belong to Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, but we thought it was for what they did with the ball, not their front foot. If they did bowl deliberate no-balls – and the evidence looks horrible, particularly the picture of Salman Butt staring at the bowler rather than the batsman – it is obvious that they must be dealt with severely, yet the widespread calls for life bans are surely, at this stage, over the top. Given the natural disaster currently affecting Pakistan, it should not be too difficult for us to get some perspective.

If it only amounts to a few no-balls – and, yes, that if is bigger than one of the Spin's special midnight feasts – the ICC must make the punishment fit the crime with bans of maybe one to two years. Yet before we even rush to that judgement, it is important to clarify the exact circumstances behind any supposed spot-fixing. There have been enough comments from those in the know, like the former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson, to suggest that this may be far more sinister than a simple case of avarice.

Difficult as it is, given their incredible backstory, we must judge this case in isolation rather than as yet another example of what many feel is institutionalised corruption within Pakistan cricket. For example, when the former England footballer Matt Le Tissier recently admitted to spot-fixing during his playing days, nobody demonised him. In fact, it was all seen as a bit of a laugh. We might say that is the difference between football and cricket. More probably, it is the difference between how we judge England and Pakistan.

Perhaps the desire for smallish bans simply stems from a need to see Amir again. The thought that his career is over is far too heartbreaking to even consider. It is his involvement that has made this case so sickening and sad. We tend to reach for hyperbole at times like these, but Amir really is comparable with any 18-year-old bowler in the history of the game. And those who would easily dismiss him as a greedy deviant should recall his overwhelming joy at taking a Lord's five-for on Friday, when he bent down to kiss the turf. The News of the World described it as "a kiss of betrayal", but it wasn't: it was the kiss of a kid who adores the game. He may have done something gravely wrong; if so, we must hope the ICC does not compound it with a hasty and excessive punishment.

AND IN OTHER NEWS ... ENGLAND'S END-OF-SERIES REPORT CARD

Andrew Strauss (155 runs at 25.83) Unlike many of his team-mates, Strauss didn't look in especially bad nick; he just kept getting out. The fact that five of his six dismissals were to left-arm seamers is a concern, with Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger waiting in Australia. So is the fact it is now 14 Tests since his last century. But we will still feel safe in his hands when he walks out to the middle in Brisbane. 6/10

Alastair Cook (167 runs at 23.85) His aggressive century at The Oval showed wonderful character but it was business as usual at Lord's, where he was lucky to reach 10 in a tortuous innings. The technical worries have not gone away and, while Cook's sheer will enables him to score runs against most opposition, a record of two fifty-plus scores in 10 Ashes Tests demands improvement. 5/10

Jonathan Trott (404 runs at 67.33) An immense performance. His 404 runs were 154 more than the next best on either side (Stuart Broad with 250) and, perhaps more tellingly, the 895 balls he faced were more than double the next best (Azhar Ali with 424). Trott is a master of the oldfangled art of batting time. Nobody is complaining about his rituals any more. 9/10

Kevin Pietersen (140 runs at 23.33) The need to talk about Kevin has never been greater. He has rarely looked in worse nick, and in all forms of the game it is now 56 innings since his last England century. Mortality bites, and England need to find a way to give him some time in the middle before the Ashes trip. But talk of dropping Pietersen is ludicrous. 4/10

Paul Collingwood (119 runs at 19.83) As in the 2009 Ashes, Collingwood started with a vital innings and faded away to nothing. His superb 82 at Trent Bridge was lost in Eoin Morgan's century, but without it England would have been in enormous trouble. At 34, Collingwood remains England's firefighter-in-chief and one of world cricket's greatest fielders. 5/10

Eoin Morgan (175 runs at 29.16) We and probably he are none the wiser as to whether he will crack Test cricket. An ultra-charming century on the first day of the series, sealed with a swaggering straight six, was followed by a series of low scores. If there was fallibility in the corridor outside off-stump, it was also the sort of exceptional bowling that would have troubled anyone. Likely to make way when Ian Bell returns, but will surely stay as first reserve. 5/10

Matt Prior (234 runs at 58.50) To think he was once England's weakest link. Prior has grown admirably into an unobtrusive wicketkeeper-batsman of very high order. His selfless batting was rewarded with a glorious century at Trent Bridge, and his wicketkeeping was deft and fleet-footed throughout. Right here, right now, there is arguably no better keeper-batsman in the world. 8/10

Graeme Swann (48 runs at 8.00; 22 wickets at 12.22) Yet another majestic performance from England's best spinner since Derek Underwood. The runs dried up but with the ball he had far too much nous and class for such a callow batting line-up. Sometimes it's hard to believe just how good Swann is. He, more than anyone else, will determine the outcome of the Ashes. 9/10

Stuart Broad (250 runs at 41.66; 14 wickets at 23.35) As in 2009, he saved the best for last with that stunning 169 at Lord's. With the ball Broad sensibly played second-fiddle to the rampant James Anderson, although he demonstrated his ability to get batsmen out in a multitude of ways. His bowling average isn't coming down quite as quickly as we'd like, and the occasional tantrums does him no credit, but he rightly remains an automatic pick. 7/10

James Anderson (19 runs at 3.16; 23 wickets at 13.73) A dream series. When the ball is swinging round corners Anderson is as good as anybody in the world, and at times – particularly when he took 11 for 71 at Trent Bridge - he was thrillingly unplayable. But then we knew he would be. The real test, on flat pitches and with an old Kookaburra, will come in Australia. 9/10

Steven Finn (10 runs at 10.00; 13 wickets at 22.92) We might quibble about a few too many four-balls, but generally it's hard to find fault with a record of 32 wickets at 23 from your first eight Tests. Has all the tools and, impressively for one so young, looks like he knows how to use them. 7/10